One Hundred Days: Day Seventy-Eight

Dr.Reed said my X-ray yesterday was awesome…. that means the hardware is melding very well, and my bone break lines are just about invisible! I did a demo of walking with and without the walker and he sent me on my way… until another X-ray in 6 weeks to keep track of my bone density in the area of the breaks, which he expects to continue to improve.

What is new and improved is really improved but I am still battling with sad, tired, old, difficult feet….just like I was before I broke my ankle and had the restorative surgery. I knew this all along but at some level I hoped that things would some how be easier……

What was however easier was Dr.Reed gave me the OK to wear my FitFlop sandals (he knows FitFlop technology) and this was a big step forward this morning early, heading to the kitchen on foot for that first cup of coffee and my adaptive Tai Chi exercises; which I did in a standing position for the very first time. The sandals are the most comfortable for my new ankle but I can’t wear compression sox with them on account of the toe thong! So it was back into the boot with the red laces, pictured in an earlier post; the fitflop boots got a very high rating from Dr.Reed, I should add!

So what’s next? Getting back to normal…whatever that is…. maybe back to the new normal would be more accurate. This will be revealed to me no doubt, in the next days and weeks as I find out what my limits are…..does a new normal mean something more restrictive or just something different?

Conclusion: Judging by my visit to SOC and Dr.Reed yesterday, I gathered I’ve had a smoother and easier recuperation journey than most with the same or similar surgery. This I attribute to all the fabulous people supporting me at many different levels. Thank you to each one of you.

Challenge: To not expect my recuperation speed in the near term to be like the last four weeks; in fact Dr.Reed warned me about this…..

I’ll still be updating here every few days or so; mostly when there is something interesting or significant to report……and I’ll do that right up until DAY 100…..which is getting closer every day!

Previous ankle recuperation journey posts are below………or just go to Images Of Life and pick the most compelling image for a recent update…..

I bought an elegant walking cane for my mother, she was a very elegant person. And I taught her how to use it. Today, what I knew about using a walking cane was the most important thing I needed to know.

Why is patience a virtue? Why can't I buy more patience online? Those were my first thoughts today as I woke up feeling very impatient with myself and with life. Then I remembered something I had read recently " Patience is the virtue we exercise to take advantage of the time we have."

The most important thing when you feel out of control, as I did the other morning, is to take control of your attitude. You'll say it's easy for me as it's only 100 days.....however I have been thinking what if...... I have also been thinking about how important it is to Design a space for the possible eventuality.......

Getting in the groove would describe today. Not a fun groove either, just something that needs to be done to move the recuperation journey along. Fortunately sleep is an all important part of recuperation for ankle surgery, and I did a lot of that...so what about tonight when I can't sleep?

When I fell and broke my ankle on January 26th, I had no warning. I slipped on algae covered concrete....... two ankle bones snapped..... which necessitated in having 10 screws and a stainless plate inserted during surgery last Monday by Seattle orthopedic surgeon Dr.Mark Reed.

So when you see a Dragon in the sky what does this mean? Today it felt like the Dragon was looking out for me. My challenge today was finding the balance between taking control or letting the pain suppressors continue to do their thing.

I am looking forward with trepidation to next Wednesday when a lot more than a culinary skill will be revealed....... stay tuned....my cast will be removed and I'll have to actually confront, feel and see the surgery results! How will metal screws actually feel?

When I woke up yesterday morning, my first thought was "how can I cope"? And then my friend Karen called and asked, "how does it feel to be out of control" Right on Karen!...... that's just what I was feeling!

This is what I see from my bed through a long lens! It feels like I am looking at everything through a long lens this week ....... everything is magnified and I'm focused on the details rather than the overall picture.

On January 26th I learned that the recuperation journey will be about 100 days; that's this week added to the 12 weeks after my ankle surgery scheduled for tomorrow. So this is my personal diary ONE HUNDRED DAYS; it's really self- therapy to help me deal with the days to come ........

Hardware update completed ~ unlike updated computer hardware I hope this one will last for 30 years... My surgery yesterday at 7.30 in the morning was 2 hours and I came out of the anesthetic fast they said .

As some of you know I am an advocate of Master Tung's Acupuncture, and even visited one of his remaining direct disciples in Taipei a few years ago. Today, Jon Gissel Seattle Master Tung practitioner flew in to see me via Kenmore Air float plane.

Our four legged feline companions are a very important part of our recuperation process. Eight weeks ago we adopted a Bengal rescue cat and named him Tai Chi. After a very controlled introduction process he and our fifteen year old Burmese, Braun are almost best of friends.

Just when you think you have things all worked out, you realize they don't really work anymore and you have to change, modify, pivot your strategy or plan. That is the similarity between the StartUp and recuperation journey. Yesterday's plan is not the best focus for today.

How can a Medical facility sell a MaxTrax boot for $350.00, which is for sale on Amazon for less than $100? Is it the same product? Do mark-ups vary that much when a product is prescribed by a Doctor? ? Which layer in the chain is taking the biggest cut?

You can read so much from a face; from a facial expression and also what I call face language (like body language) ~ even this mask "The Prince" by Northwest Artist Doug David reveals strength and character and perhaps some bloody mindedness as well.

To some of us Valentines day is not really significant - as every day is special day when you are with someone you love - and what some people show once a year should be an integral part of the DNA of your relationship.

Things are often not what they seem! Look closely the Deer is not really being offered as a tasty dish! Well, that could be a great opening for a politically focused post, appropriate for Presidents Day; but not happening here. This image could also lead to the philosophical discussion ~ how do you know what is real?

Architects and Designers who design for accessible design should spend at least a couple of days in a wheelchair! After spending a month tooling around at home, staying in a hotel and visiting Seattle Orthopedic Center I've come the conclusion that in real terms as to what a person needs, some ADA designed spaces fall short!

What does normal mean? Every time we change what we expect in our lives does it become a new normal? Who would have known how things would change and all I did was break an ankle, require a hardware upgrade to my foot and embark on a 100 day recuperation journey.

Everyone wants to know, but how much detail should you really share? I am sensitive about this, as just about everyone I know has such a very busy schedule. So here goes the short form: Image here is the first layer of my after surgery cast being removed.

When you reach a goal, even an interim goal or milestone you know you are on the right road.......but that's assuming you've made the goals in the first place. It's important in a recuperation journey to have clearly defined goals or milestones. We reached a milestone today; ice and elevate really paid off.

It's a SAD day in the San Juan Islands, located in the great Pacific Northwest. This was my "viewport" when I opened my front door this morning....it was enough to make me turn around and go back to bed.

Why is struggling with new technology so time consuming? Why cant there be a simple solution for online security? The phone in my image above still works after several decades and it's only challenging to use if you are under a certain age! Not a very secure location in today's world...

Things are often not white and black! I'm one of those people who likes definitive decisions, guidelines and strategies. Recuperation journeys are like that...... lots of gray areas....... are things really getting better? Have I had a set back? When can I move onto the next phase.... not until...maybe?

I've used this red hat to represent my mentoring role! However, today it feels like I am hat-less..... I am trying diligently to get back on track in spite of the many healing and recuperation distractions which often have to take priority.

My guardian angle today came in the form of Chef Sylvia. She brought the much needed "fun" ingredient to the recuperation journey when she flew in by ferry last evening late. Along with "fun" came some much needed "organization" which will make my next few weeks much easier and far less stressful.

Breaking bread has thousands of years of significance and symbolism. This morning Chef Sylvia baked six loaves of bread and was in my kitchen early kneading the dough and setting it aside to rise! The results were mouth watering, and lunch an unforgettable event!

One-Size-Fits-All is all very well..... however with some products (and services) if you cant customize, one size does not fit at all. I am struggling with the MaxTrax boot which is in many ways a very innovative invention, and very workable substitute for having to wear a cast after broken bones have been fixed and are healing.

It seems from the feedback I received related to yesterday's post I have set my expectations too high. I should be satisfied that my calls are getting in fact through, and that someone responds. It would however be reassuring if the same person responded, even if not my Doctor but someone who was familiar with my situation.

I've never been one of those people who takes a long time getting up in the morning. I've always been the one to take care of others, including the pets! Now it's all different it takes me close to two hours to get ready in the morning!

This is the Shark Reef community; pictured are Cormorants, California Gulls and Harbor seals! Hidden are an assortment of fish and crustaceans! This is the rocky landmark I can see from my deck which reveals whether the tide is in or out. As the tides ebb and flow, and the seasons change so does the resident community change.

Out with the old and in with the new! When do you keep, restore or preserve the old and when do you just delete it? What are the reasons for keeping an old building like this other than it is very photogenic and great subject matter!

Spring has spring....or almost! I'm eager to get out and about.....and work on my 2015 landscape Design. Hopefully I'll be allowed to hobble about in ten days....if the melding of bone and screws in my ankle hardware upgrade is on track! Landscaping Design is not something you do and forget about....it's an organic and evolving endeavor.

I've often heard the expression....there are no coincidences ..... in life! Well what are the odds of two birds being on the top of the same tree, perfectly symmetrical at the exact the same time that I had a camera with a long lens at hand?

The Eagles are making an ungainly racket this morning.....that's a definite habinger of Spring! Pretty soon I'll be watching their courtship dances or courtship flights as they ride the updrafts over the bluff, just a few feet from my deck. I captured this image a few years ago and that was only after several years of trying........

The decision needs to be made; should I relax or move projects forward? It was easy for Tai Chi as he was indisputably in relaxation mode all day. While on the other hand I was moving things forward, well as much as I could in my current immobile situation.

When people come visit from other countries I always ask them.... what food or drink do they miss most in the US..... food they are accustomed to and absolutely cant find ? It's very interesting and revealing the answers I have received through the years......

Wood fire season is almost over, but a windy March day is still a good excuse to light a fire and move my work space in close proximity...which is exactly what I did yesterday. I got lots of work done and accomplished a great deal while enjoying the warm glow, and aromatic smell of apple tree logs burning.

I've reached the halfway mark of my recuperation journey. My reward was to buy a scale; believe it or not I don't have a bathroom scale in my house and it's now become a vital tool in my next steps! I will be practicing putting weight on my right ankle......and Dr.Reed has laid out a plan.

It's not so easy to monitor your speed when driving an Audi R8. It's also not so easy to put exactly the right weight on your foot when doing weight bearing exercises. You wouldn't think they are related, but in fact they are. I have sometimes been accused of having a heavy right foot!

Tai Chi with a Cheshire cat grin and a definite "I told you so" expression...even in his sleep! Well, I over did the 100 mph day yesterday... or was that 100 lbs? I was feeling so good that I really pushed it and today the 100 lbs pressure seems a bit excessive.

This past weekend consisted of a couple of Blue days.....this was my view for most of the weekend as I was feet up and in no-weight -bearing mode! I also had to re-think my recuperation process and the recent instructions from Dr. Reed. It was time to change gears and customize for me.

Thoughts are things! That's an expression my mother used quite often; meaning if you visualize strongly enough it will happen. I'm visualizing wearing my right shoe; the other half of a new pair of Fitflops I just purchased online~ not a Fitflop sandal as I usually buy, but a closed lace-up boot....with red laces of course!

My recuperation journey has never been without flowers; and often two dozen roses strategically placed for me to see from my perch on the antique circular sofa in the kitchen bay window, where I spend most of my days working!

Dr.Reed said my X-ray yesterday was awesome.... that means the hardware is melding very well, and my bone break lines are just about invisible! I did a demo of walking with and without the walker and he sent me on my way...

Spring has sprung....the wisteria is about to bloom......in fact the flowers are already quite evident on the reclaimed wood pergola. I am enjoying my small enclosed garden, and in fact had my midday coffee sitting in the sun next to Hotai right in the center of the garden.

I am coming to the end of my 100 day recuperation journey and yesterday the reality sunk in that it's going to be nine months to a year until I am functioning as "normal" again..... What do I need to do to change gears (and I thought I'd be 100% by now) to embrace the healing process going forward....

The ups and downs are cycling very fast now; meaning the roller coaster ride of recovery is even more erratic as we near the 100 days. One minute we're feeling the sky is the limit and next we wonder if 100 days of recuperation will really be nine months!

Yesterday I were sitting on a high, I'd met a goal. Today, I are at the beginning again and it feels like I am at the bottom...so this is what they mean by the ups and downs of the recuperation journey.

Master Tung created his own brand of Acupuncture by defining his preferred points; sometimes called Master Tungs magic points! It's not that different really to the Chinese practiced for thousands of years. I rarely have more than five needles during a session which is rather different to the 20-200 needles which most people associate with Acupuncture.

If Van Gogh had been driving through Skagit Valley this afternoon he would have painted this; or rather he might have used his iPhone, as I did and shared it with all his friends via instagram! Spring has arrived or so it seems, if you judge Spring by color and not temperature.

It would appear the fear of litigation is so prevalent that some medical groups discourage anything beyond the most superficial relationship with your Doctor. I'd always been led to believe that Doctor and patient working together can increase the success of the outcome of any medical procedure or process.

When you discover a little red bench like this in the woods.....you feel like stopping and going no further. My day today didn't have a red bench in it....it was a day pushing things to the finish line, and unfortunately no time for relaxing!

These Mount Vesuvius muffins were created by a designer. The very same designer featured in one of my most popular posts "The Icing On The Cake. These muffins were featured in a special breakfast celebration for the 40% mark of my recuperation journey.